NSDL/NSTA Web Seminar 5: Learning By Doing--Computational Science

This page lists resources found within the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) mentioned in the seminar and beyond. For more information on these seminars, go to http://nsdl.org or to the NSTA site at http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp

Computational Science Education Reference Desk (CSERD)CSERD is the NSDL Pathways Portal for Computational Science. The Pathway provides access to resources across the Internet relating to activities, lesson plans, interactives, professional development opportunities, and more in computational science. Users can provide reviews of resources that are suitable for K-12 to Graduate study.

Shodor Education Foundation, Inc., TheAs a major contributor and organization of CSERD, The Shodor Foundation is a non-profit research and education organization dedicated to the advancement of science and math education, specifically through the use of modeling and simulation technologies.

Project InteractivateProject Interactivate is a special collection found within CSERD. These Java-based interactives provide teachers with an excellent resource for the science and math classroom. Each interactive has information for both teacher and instructor with detailed instructions and methods for use in the classroom.

INTERACTIVES ON PROBABILITY IN PROJECT INTERACTIVATE

Interactivate: Fire!!This activity allows the user to see the results of a fire if a forest is densely planted in a rectangular grid. This activity would work well in mixed ability groups of two for about thirty to thirty-five minutes if you use the exploration questions and ten to fifteen minutes otherwise.

A Better Fire!!This version of the Fire! Interactive includes additional factors that influence the spread of a fire such as wind direction, wind speed, and forest density for a more accurate model for comparison and discussion.

Rabbits and WolvesThis activity allows the user to simulate how nature keeps its balance. This applet shows how wolves and rabbits would behave in their natural setting. This activity would work well in groups of two to four for about thirty minutes if you use the exploration questions and ten to fifteen minutes otherwise.

The Game of LifeThis simulation is based on a game invented by mathematician John Horton Conway. Conway's Game of Life is an example of cellular automation where all cells' behavior on the grid are determined by a set of rules. The game board represents a community and each cell represents a community member. All members follow certain rules.

Estimator InteractiveThis activity allows the user to learn about the estimation process. Students can choose to estimate the length of a line, the area of a shape, or the number of objects in the box. Estimation is a useful tool to get a general idea about a quantity or a size when an exact answer is not necessary.

Luna SeeLunar PhasesThese interactive gives the user a visual representation of how the phases of the moon change over time and the relationship between the position of the Earth, Sun, and Moon.

Engineers in Training: Takes Two to ToppleThis lesson is a part of a unit called Engineers in Training that was developed by the SUCCEED Project. Students use trial-and-error testing and careful observation to build a hypothesis on the principles behind structural balance.

Project SUCCEEDProject SUCCEED offers formal workshops and classes in the theory and practice of computational science, both as stand-alone classes and as a prelude to full research apprenticeships for some students .